Category: Blog

3 min read

LSA has donated 40 computers to Palms Solutions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the African Diaspora through education, health and entrepreneurship. According to Jean Marie Kouassi, Executive Director of Palms Solutions, 15 of the computers will be used for TIMBA, an after-school program for under-served students in the Philadelphia region that incorporates Technology and Inquiry into a Multicultural Bilingual Academic setting. TIMBA students will use the new computers this September to complete writing assignments, conduct online research and participate in interactive math exercises.

The remaining computers will be sent to Eritrea, Africa for the organization’s Women Empowerment Program. This program strives to empower and educate African women, both from the Diaspora and their homelands, giving them the skills and tools needed to achieve their full potential. The computers being sent to Eritrea will help address some of the many problems these women face today, like being limited to household work only.

“We are very grateful to LSA for the generous computer donation for our TIMBA and Women Empowerment programs,” said Kouassi. “This is a great example of an organization thinking locally while acting globally.”

The computers were made available for donation as a result of LSA’s continued efforts to refresh its technological environment. Two computers have also been donated to Vulcan Lyric (formerly known as the Center City Opera Theater) for office use.

3 min read

We’re so honored to be a member of Watsi’s Universal Fund and to help patients across the world receive the medical treatments they desperately need. This month, LSA’s donation went to Garlens – a beautiful one-year-old boy from Haiti – who will undergo surgery to treat a rare congenital heart disease. Learn more about Garlens’s story below.

One-year-old Garlens lives with his mother and grandmother just east of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Garlens has been diagnosed with total anomalous pulmonary vein return, which is a rare congenital heart condition in which his pulmonary veins do not connect to the heart in the normal anatomical location. As a result, blood and oxygen cannot circulate normally through his body, making him extremely sick and oxygen-deprived. Without heart surgery, his life expectancy would be months or even weeks.

“Following surgery, normal blood flow should be restored to Garlens’s heart and he should be able to live a full and normal life,” reports Watsi’s medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA).

“I have been praying to God every day to make a path for Garlens to live,” said Garlens’s mom. “My prayers are about to be answered!”

We are so happy to be able to help Garlens receive this important medical treatment! Are you interested in becoming a member of Watsi’s Universal Fund? Visit Watsi.org to learn more and meet the patients across the world that need your help!

“We believe everyone deserves healthcare, and we’re making that a reality, one patient at a time.”

– Chase Adam, Founder of Watsi

5 min read

When it comes to meeting the needs of non-English speaking customers, many of today’s leading contact centers partner with a language services provider (LSP) for telephone interpretation support. As with all third-party vendors, it’s important you take the time to carefully vet your LSP. How are they maintaining the confidentiality, integrity and security of the personal information your customers have entrusted you with? From account numbers, to billing records, to genetic information, telephone interpreters come in contact with many different types of personal information in the daily discharge of their duties.

Are you currently partnered with an LSP? Are you considering partnering with an LSP for interpretation support? Here are five questions every multilingual contact center needs to be asking their language services vendor!

1. Have your employees and independent contractors received privacy awareness training?

All employees and independently contracted interpreters should be given a specific set of instructions on the proper way to handle personal information, the process for reporting a potential data breach and penalties for non-compliance.

2. How are you monitoring the activity of your independent contractors?

Your LSP should have a dedicated Quality Assurance team in place. These individuals should be monitoring and evaluating independent contractor activity on a daily basis to ensure compliance requirements are being met to the fullest.

3. Have you engaged a third party vendor to conduct a risk assessment?

A third party security firm should have carefully assessed your LSPs policies, procedures, information systems and network infrastructure to ensure the complete privacy of your customers current and future personal information.

4. Have you developed security policies and procedures with regards to private information?

Your LSP should have a specific set of security policies and procedures in place for the following: password authentication, e-mail and Internet usage, inactivity timeouts, sending and receiving personal information by fax, encryption, document shredding, data loss prevention, clean workstations, mobile device management, independent contractor credentialing systems and content management systems.

5. What happens in the event of a data breach?

It’s important your LSP have a written policy in place detailing the action steps that will be taken should there be a breach in data. This policy should also state if the organization will hold the breaching party accountable for his / her actions (i.e., accidental vs. willful).

These are just some of the many questions multilingual contact centers should be asking their language services vendor to ensure the protection of their customers data.

Interested in learning more? Visit LSA at booth number 727 at the 16th Annual Call Center Week Conference & Expo and speak with one of our dedicated representatives.

Sign up for our FREE High Roller event at Call Center Week!

3 min read

We’re so honored to be a member of Watsi’s Universal Fund! Through monthly donations to the nonprofit company, we help fund life-changing medical treatments for those in need across the world. This month, LSA – in partnership with Watsi and other online donors – raised funds for Cedric, a 12-year-old boy from Haiti, to repair his atrial septal defect.

Read Cedric’s story below.

 

Cedric was born with a heart condition called atrial septal defect. He has a hole between the upper two chambers of his heart. “Blood passes through this hole and back to the body without first obtaining oxygen,” explains Watsi’s medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “This leaves him constantly short of breath and unable to exert himself. If untreated, this condition could become fatal.”

With the help of online donors, Cedric will now be able to travel overseas to a hospital with cardiac specialists who can perform surgery to repair the hole in his heart. Following the closure of the hole between his atria, Cedric’s heart should engage in normal blood flow. He will have full relief from his symptoms and will be able to resume the activities he loves, like playing soccer.

Are you interested in becoming a member of Watsi’s Universal Fund? Visit Watsi.org to learn more and meet the patients that need your help!

“We believe everyone deserves healthcare, and we’re making that a reality, one patient at a time.”

– Chase Adam, Founder of Watsi

5 min read

Through monthly donations to Watsi, LSA helps fund life-changing medical treatments for individuals in developing countries. This month, LSA helped Esupat and Daw Myint get the medical treatments they need to enjoy a better quality of life. Learn more about Esupat and Daw Myint by reading their stories below!

 

Esupat is an 11-year-old girl from Tanzania. She enjoys singing and playing ‘rede,’ a local ball game. While at home, Esupat and her sister help with the household chores, like washing dishes, collecting firewood and herding calves.

Unfortunately, Esupat has a burn contracture on her right elbow and wrist from an incident that occurred as a baby, resulting in the inability to fully extend her right arm. Esupat’s parents work as livestock keepers and cannot afford the cost of surgery.

LSA, in partnership with Watsi and other donors, funded Esupat’s treatment to release the burn scar contracture. She is now able to straighten her arm and perform activities more easily!

Meet Daw Myint

Daw Myint is a 56-year-old mother of five. She lives with her husband and their son in Burma. When she feels well enough to cook, Daw Myint earns a meager income selling snacks. Their son works as a mechanic to pay the family’s rent and bills, and another daughter is occasionally able to send money. Because of their tight finances, Daw Myint has not been able to seek treatment for her cervical polyp.

“She is extremely concerned that her condition may turn into cancer due to her age,” reports Watsi medical partner Burma Border Projects. “She has lived with her symptoms as a secret because her family doesn’t make enough to live comfortably, and she is also concerned because if she waits longer and her symptoms get worse, she would be more of a burden to her family. If she has cancer, she is willing to live with it untreated because they can’t afford it financially.”

LSA, in partnership with Watsi and other donors, funded a surgery to remove Daw Myint’s cervical polyp, and to cover comprehensive treatment during the recovery process. Soon Daw Myint should be able to return to her husband, children and grandchildren, and resume some of her favorite activities, like gardening and cooking to provide for her loved ones!

Are you interested in funding life-changing medical treatments for people around the world? Visit Watsi.org to learn more and meet the patients that need your help!

3 min read

We’re excited to announce LSA has received a Horizon Interactive Award for its redesigned website and updated corporate brand! This is the second time LSA’s website has received international acclaim.

“We are truly honored by this recognition,” said Tony Lannutti, Creative Director, LSA. “Receiving this award validates our creative efforts and motivates us to continue to be a leader and innovator in the language services industry.”

In its 13^th year, the Horizon Interactive Awards was created to recognize excellence in interactive media production worldwide. Since 2001, the competition has received tens of thousands of entries from many countries around the world and nearly all 50 U.S. states. The judging process involves a Horizon Interactive Awards advisory panel, end user panel and a worldwide panel of judges consisting of industry professionals.

“The 2014 competition represents an amazing display of digital artistry, innovation and craftsmanship,” said, Mike Sauce- Founder of the Horizon Interactive Awards. “We have continued to see a trend where an emphasis is placed on consistency of the digital experience across all touch-points of user interaction from desktop to tablet to mobile phone. In this year’s competition, we were astounded by not only the responsive, full screen and immersive desktop experiences but the optimization of screen real estate and attention to purpose for tablets and other mobile devices. All this while providing engaging and rich multi-media solutions to users. The bottom line, our 2014 winners truly do exhibit a mastery of the optimal blend between aesthetics, outstanding content, innovation, usability and performance.”

For more information, visit www.horizoninteractiveawards.com.

9 min read

Photo Credit: John Wesley Photography (John Graves, VRI Manager)

Meet Kristin Fullam – LSA’s Vendor Procurement Administrative Support Specialist

A Philadelphia native who makes a mean buffalo chicken dip, Kristin is best known for her bubbly personality and contagious energy. She is always smiling and eager to take on her next challenge. For Kristin, every task is an opportunity to learn, engage and grow.

Learn more about Kristin in our Q&A below!

Q: What makes LSA unique or special compared to your work experiences elsewhere?

I leave the office every day feeling really good about the service LSA provides. We help people communicate regardless of the language they speak; we give them a voice! It’s pretty amazing when you think about it.

Q: Can you describe a project you’re currently working on?

I’m currently offering cross-training sessions through a series of Lunch and Learns.  Anyone at LSA who wants to learn more about the strict documentation process Vendor Procurement complies with to meet client requirements can participate. Some of the items we review are HIPAA compliance regulations for independent contractors, language proficiency testing, industry standards and protocol, vendor orientation…and much, much more!

Q: How would your teammates describe you?

Hmm…loud is the first word that comes to mind! They’d probably also say I’m organized, dedicated, detail oriented and proactive.

Q: LSA helps people and companies survive and thrive in a global environment. In your role, how do you help LSA achieve this mission?

Aside from managing all of the documentation and background check requirements for LSA’s linguists, I help my team actively seek qualified interpreters across all languages. This allows us to meet the vast language and cultural needs of our client base. We just added Kyrgyz (a Turkic language spoken by about 4 million people) to our list of 200+ language offerings. We’re pretty excited about it!

Q: What’s your favorite event at LSA?

This May, LSA will be celebrating its 10th annual International Food Day event! It’s a huge potluck lunch where we all come together to celebrate the company’s diversity. Everyone brings something that represents their heritage. All the dishes are delicious but the one I’m most looking forward to is Dennis Daniels’ (Sales Associate, LSA) samosa!

Q: LSA aims to provide the best customer service possible. How are some of the ways you deliver exceptional service to LSA’s linguists?

The answer to that is pretty simple. I treat our linguists the way I want to be treated. This is their livelihood – how they provide for their families – and I take that very seriously. I really get to know our linguists and connect with them on a personal level. As a result, they feel comfortable with me, and with LSA in general, and they’re more motivated to provide our clients’ with the best service experience possible.

Q: Which LSA core value resonates with you the most? How so?

All of LSA’s core values help guide and influence my behavior in some way, but I’d have to go with Never Stop Learning. I love learning new things and I’m always finding ways to expand my knowledge base. My passion for learning is what inspired me to go back to school and pursue a Master of Science in Human Capital Development, which I’m proud to say I’ll be receiving this May!

Q: Do you have a favorite quote?

I love this quote from Vivian Greene:

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass… It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Q: If you had a “theme song” that played whenever you walk into a room full of people, what would it be?

“Roar” by Katy Perry. It’s such a fun, upbeat song.

Q: In the movie based on your life, who plays you?

That’s a tough question! I think I’d have to go with Melissa McCarthy.

Q: Do you have any hidden talents we should be aware of?

I can paint and draw. I attended art school after graduating from Saint Hubert Catholic High School to master my craft, but never pursued it professionally. Some of my paintings are actually hanging in my house!

Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Without a doubt my greatest achievement was receiving my Bachelor of Arts degree from La Salle University. Because I went back to school at the age of 30, I was able to appreciate it more and approach things from a much different perspective. I didn’t take the time for granted, and I embraced every opportunity that came my way.

Q: What are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of LSA?

I love to paint, draw, read, take pictures and spend quality time with my family and friends. I would like to learn American Sign Language (ASL); it’s something I’ve always wanted to pursue. Maybe after graduating this May I’ll finally be able to!

4 min read

LSA is proud to announce its partnership with Watsi for the second consecutive year! Through monthly donations, we are helping fund life-changing medical treatments for individuals in developing countries. Did you know that 11,004 people have funded healthcare for 3,729 patients in 20 countries through Watsi (numbers published as of 2/26/15)? So far this year, we have helped Kelvin and Teresa get the medical treatments they need to enjoy a better quality of life. Learn more about Kelvin and Teresa by reading their stories below!

Meet Kelvin

Kelvin is an energetic six-year-old boy from Tanzania who enjoys running around and playing with his friends. Kelvin was born with a bilateral clubfoot, a condition that causes his feet to turn inward, and that can lead to early osteoarthritis. Kelvin’s parents are small-scale farmers and they cannot afford to pay for treatment. With the help of LSA, Kelvin was able to receive the treatment necessary for him be able to walk properly and develop normally without the risk of early osteoarthritis.

Meet Teresa

Teresa is a three-year-old girl from Guatemala who was born with extra toes on her right foot, which makes walking very painful. Her father is a manual laborer who has a difficult time finding work; the family cannot afford to pay for the surgery needed to correct Teresa’s defect.  With the help of LSA, Teresa was able to get surgery to correct her orthopedic defect, allowing her to walk without pain.

Are you interested in funding life-changing medical treatments for people around the world? Visit Watsi.org to learn more and meet the patients that need your help!

3 min read

Image via Flickr

Happy Friday! With the holiday weekend in the U.S. right around the corner, a look at the world’s hedonometer (happiness meter) via linguistic research is in order!

Linguists recently decided to test psychologists’ 1969 hypothesis that humans universally and subconsciously use more positive than negative vocabulary in speech and writing. “Put even more simply, humans tend to look on (and talk about) the bright side of life,” the University of Illinois researchers said. So is this universal “positivity bias” in language true? Researchers from the University of Vermont and not-for-profit research and development organization the MITRE Corporation recently confirmed this suspicion.

Researchers used texts, speech and websites to create a pool of the 10,000 most frequently used words in each of the languages studied: English, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Chinese (simplified), Russian, Indonesian and Arabic. Native speakers rated each word on a scale of how happy (10) or sad (1) the word’s connotation was to them. ‘Laughter’? An average of 8.5. ‘Greed’? An average of 3.06.

Overall, humans use more positive language than negative. We see the good, the silver lining, the what-have-you, holiday weekend or not!

And while the team’s findings were largely universal in confirming this positivity bias, slight differences between languages’ hedonometers were noted. Need a pick-me-up? Try reading a Spanish book or website.

Want to learn more about how LSA can help keep your Limited English Proficient customers or patients happy? Click here to contact us today.

3 min read

Since 2005, LSA has proudly been providing scholarship funds to the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (formerly the Monterey Institute of International Studies, MIIS). The goal of MIIS is to prepare students from all over the world to make a meaningful impact in a rapidly changing global community. LSA is honored to have formed such a strong, lasting partnership with this esteemed institution. In fact, many of LSA’s talented linguist partners (and some employees) are MIIS graduates.

As the world becomes more and more globalized, the need for professional language services providers (like LSA) and international professional education institutions (like MIIS) will continue to rise. As LSA’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, Laura K.T. Schriver, has always said, “better understanding IS good business.” LSA looks forward to continue growing its relationship with the entire MIIS community.

Interested in learning more about MIIS? Check out the below fast facts!

• The MIIS student body represents 43 countries and 40 native languages
• 28% of MIIS students come from outside of the U.S.
• $55,186 is the total yearly expense for the average MIIS student
• 90% of MIIS students receive some sort of merit scholarship
• Gifts to MIIS have more than doubled in the last fiscal year, topping $6.5 million

Are you a MIIS graduate? What are some of the fun facts you’d add to this list? Please post your comments below!

To learn more about how LSA can help you meet your interpretation and translation needs, please contact us.

4 min read

Image via Flickr

One of the ways LSA anticipates the language needs of its clients is by staying on top of migration flows across the world. The need for language services support in Mayan languages across the healthcare, law, non-profit sectors and other industries is imminent. Did you know that there are over 20,000 Mayas living in San Francisco? Interested in learning more about the Mayan language family? Check out some of the fun facts we’ve compiled for you below!

Did You Know?

• Just as people from China don’t speak “Chinese” but rather Mandarin, Cantonese or another specific language, the Mayan people do not speak “Mayan.” They speak one of more than 25 languages in the Mayan language family.
• Guatemala recognizes at least 20 Mayan languages within its borders.
• Mexico recognizes 10 Mayan languages in its southeastern region.
• Mayan languages are mutually unintelligible, meaning a speaker of one will not easily understand a speaker of another, though they may share cultural traits within a group.
• There may be as many as six million native speakers of Mayan languages living in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and the United States.
• Most Mayan language speakers prefer their native tongue to Spanish or English.
• A few Mayan languages are tonal, such as Yucatec Maya.
• Most Mayan languages lack the sounds /b/, /d/, /g/ and /z/.
• Word order varies among the Mayan languages, while English is usually represented as Subject-Verb-Object (SVO).
• Vocabulary for all comes from Proto-Mayan, spoken 5,000 years ago. Some words are borrowed from Spanish or other Mayan languages.

Want a listen? Linguist Nikte Sis Iboy presents her work on the Mayan language of Guatemala Kaqchikel in this video. She does so in Achi, another Mayan language of Guatemala!

We are proud to partner with professional Mayan interpreters to meet the needs of our clients. Contact an LSA representative today to learn more!

2 min read

Image via Flickr

Rather than traditional arguments for why we should strive to save all of the world’s 6,000-some languages, John McWhorter of Columbia University brings a fresh perspective to languages’ value.

The lens of a language presents a unique way of viewing the world, linguists have typically argued. Some ideas have no direct word-for-word interpretation or translation from one language to the next. Japanese speakers name blocks when giving addresses, not streets, for example. Russians have no one word for the color blue.

McWhorter, a professor of linguistics, brings alternative arguments for saving languages to his students:

1. Language is central to a culture’s identity.
2. Languages’ variance is just as scientifically significant as that of the world’s flora and fauna.

View McWhorter’s full opinion piece here. What are your thoughts on saving the world’s languages? Share your comments below!